How to Stop a Conspiracy

In "How to Stop a Conspiracy," Josiah Osgood presents a modern translation of Sallust's "The War with Catiline," detailing the dramatic events of 63 BC when the aristocrat Catiline attempted to overthrow the Roman Republic. Supported by corrupt elites and disenfranchised citizens, Catiline’s plot culminated in a fierce Senate debate that led to the execution of conspirators and his eventual defeat. With vivid portrayals of Catiline, his rival Cicero, and Julius Caesar, who controversially defends the conspirators, this gripping account explores themes of morality and social unrest while underscoring the fragility of republics. An introduction highlights the enduring impact of Sallust's work on our understanding of political power and its consequences.